Education: University of Sydney, Bachelors of Arts/Law (Hons); Australian National University, Masters of Public Policy; Flinders University, Grad Certificate Gender Policy Analysis and Mainstreaming

Languages: English, Korean (native)

Technical areas of expertise: Development Effectiveness, Gender, Program Management

Jo leads DT Global Asia-Pacific in program quality and development effectiveness across its DFAT portfolio of programs and initiatives. She also leads on gender programs and gender technical advice. Prior to this role, Jo managed Cardno International Development's Pacific portfolio of programs since joining in 2018. Jo is also a member of DT Global Asia-Pacific's diversity, equity, and inclusion panel.

Before Cardno, Jo managed international development programs and policy in AusAID/DFAT for fifteen years, including five years posted to Papua New Guinea managing law and justice and subnational governance programs and four years in Fiji with responsibility for the Fiji and Tuvalu bilateral programs and humanitarian response following Tropical Cyclone Winston. Her last role in DFAT was as a Director in the Gender Equality Branch.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Work out what you want to do and keep doing it until someone tells you to stop!

What was the last really great book you read? Why?

Pachinko. It put me in touch with my Korean heritage and history in a very vivid way and is a powerful and compelling story albeit wracked with pain and grief.